Axle-clamp for sleigh attachments for vehicles



(No Model.)

G. B. PAQUBTTE. AXLE CLAMP POR SLEIGH ATTAGHMBNTS POR VEHICLES.

No. 499,575. Patented June 13, 189s.

/ u/lllurlllIllllll/llll/ UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. PAQETTE, oF FULTON, NEW YORK.

AxLE-CLAMP FOR SLEIGH ATTACHMENTS -FoR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,575, dated June 13,1893.

Application tiled .Tnly 11, 1892. Serial No. 439,596. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. PAQUETTE, of Fulton, in-the' county ofOswego, in the State of New York,have invented new and usefulImprovements in Axle-Clamps, of which the following, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in axle supporting boxesparticularly applicable for use upon sleighs and similar devices, andhas for its object the production of a simple and effective device forsecurely holding the axle in position and protecting the same frominjury or exposure to the elements; and to this end it consists,essentially, in a bottom box section adapted to be rigidly secured tothe sleigh frame formed with a head and a projecting end having anupturned end wall at the outside of the axle, a top box section hingedto the bottom sect-ion and formed withl a head, a projecting end pieceand an end wall corresponding to the like parts of the former section, aclamp for securing the top section in position, and in the detailconstruction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter moreparticularly described and pointed out in the claims.

v In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like lettersindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure lis atop plan View of my improved box shown as operativelymountedupon a portion of a sleigh frame and as engaged with one end of an axle.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts as shown at Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view, taken on line -3-3-, Fig. 1. Fig.4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line -4-4-, Fig. 1L Fig. 5 isa top plan View of my detached box shown as in its open position. Fig. 6is a transverse vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of theparts of my box as in their positions shown at Fig. 5, the free ends ofthe upper and lower sections being broken away. Fig. 7 is a detailvertical sectional view, taken on line 7-7, Fig. 2, and Fig. 8 is adetail sectional view, taken on line -8--8-, Fig. 2.

It is frequently desirable at certain seasons of the year to remove thewheels from hacks and other vehicles and to place the same upon sleighsto facilitate Vtheir movement over snow, ice, &c., and my invention hasfor its object the production of a simple, practical, and efficientdevice' adapted to be secured to the sleighs for engaging and supportingthe axles of the vehicle.

-A- represents a portion of the frame of a sleigh, and, as the sleighframe may be of any desired form, size, and construction to support thevehicle adapted to be mounted thereon, it is unnecessary to hereinfurther illustrate or describe said frame.

-B- is one end of the axle of a vehicle adapted to be supported upon thesleigh frame -A, and, as the axle may also be of any desirable form,size, and construction, I have here illustrated only its detached outerend. This end of the axle is formed with the usual inner cylindricalbearing face b-, the annular iiange or shoulder -b-, the taperingouterend b2 for supporting the hub of a wheel, not illustrated, a washer+53- a screw threaded spindle -b4, and a nut 65%.

-C- represents my improved box, which is preferably composed of a lowersection -cand an upper section -c, and is formed with an inner head -C-and a tapering outer end -C2. vThe section -cis formed with outwardlyextending lugs c2-c2 having vertical openings or perforations c3-c3-through which pass bolts -D-D-extending through the frame -A- forrigidly and iirmly securing said section in position. The frame -A- isalso formed with a depressed curved seat -04- for receiving the convexportion of the head 0'- interposed between the lugs -c2-c2. The head--C- of the top section -c-is formed with lugs -c5c5 arranged directlyabove the corresponding lugs -c2--c2-- of the lower section -c-. Therear lug c5- is of less width than the corresponding lug -c2-, and onopposite sides of the lug or ear d05- are upturned ears c6 formedintegral with said lug -c2-.

IOO

tion O The rear lug --02- is preferably bifurcated, and .the lug-cswings in the bifurcation,thus greatly reducing the height of thepivot -E- above the under face of the lug 02- and adding to theappearance and practicability of my invention.

The box -C- is preferably formed at the outer extremity of its end -VC2-with an end wall consisting lof an upturned wall C3 arranged on theoutside of the extreme end of the axle -B--, and formed upon the lowersection -cand a depending Wall or shoulder 04- aligned with the wall-C3- and formed upon the outer end of the upper box section. Upon theedge of one of these walls as the lower one C'` is a nipple orprojection C5- adapted to engage a `corresponding groove -CG- in theadjacent edge of the other wall -C4- for securing together the outerends of the box sections and preventing one from shifting laterally uponthe other.

-F is a clamp or fastening device for securing the top box section -einoperative position. As preferably constructed this clamp consists of ascrew having a threaded shank -fmovably mounted in a threaded socket-CT- in the forward ear -c2 and having a head -f of greater length thantlhickneszs provided with lower bearing shoulers -,c9- is a slot in thefront lug -c5- of the top box section -c-, and, as preferablyconstructed, this slot opens inwardly from the front edge of said lng,and is formed of greater length than width, and'of sufficient width tolpermit the passage therethrough of the clamp head -f"-- when forced toits position shown by dotted lines at Fig. 1 and full lines at Fig. 5.

My improved box is formed with an inner chamber C9 at its outer end andits inner periphery is formed by corresponding concave surfaces in theupper and lower faces of the lower andtop box sections -c-c-. Aspreferably constructed the inner .end of the internal chamber -CS- isformed with the raised peripheral surface -C1- for forming the same ofless diameter than its outer end for firmly engaging and supporting thecylindrical face -bof the axle. In the outer extremity of this surface-C10- is an annular groove -C11--- formed partly in Vthe upper andpartly in the lower section for receiving the shoulder -bupon the axle-B- and preventing lengthwise movement of the same within the box. Theouter portion C12- of the chamber C8-- of the box -C- is-somewhattapering, and is formed of greater diameter at its outer end by thegroove C9- This outer portion.of the chamber -C8- is of suficientdiameter to receive the end -192- of the axle --B- even when the washerb3- and the nut --b5-- are inoperative position thereon. It will now beapparent that the groove *C9- is formed in the wall of the chamber Cl2in order to increase its di- C8 having an annular groove ameter at theportion thereof for receiving the part of the axle provided with saidwasher -b3 and nut -b5-. By engaging only the cylindrical portion --b-'of the axle by the corresponding inner surface -Coof the box -O, Isecure the axle more firmly and positively than if the same were engagedby the ent-ire inner wall of the box -C-.

When desired to remove a vehicle body fro a set of wheels to a sleighthe nuts and washers for securing the wheels in position are removed,the wheels. are withdrawn from the axles, and the nuts and washers arethen replaced. The clamp -F- is forced to its position, shown at Fig. 5,the top box section -cis swung backwardly to its open position, as shownat Fig. 5, the ends of the axles with the washers and nuts thereon areplaced upon the lower box sections -c-, the upper sections -care swungto the normal position, and the clamps -F are screwed to the operativeposition. The top box section -c-- when swung backwardly, asshown atFig. 5, is supported by a cam face cmon the ear 05-v which engages withthe face cuof the adjacent rear -czof the lower box section.

It .will be particularly noted that the box -C- is of sufficient lengthto entirely incase the outer end of the axle, land is provided with endwalls --C3`CV for closing lits outer end. By this means I entirelyprevent foreign articles, as passing vehicles, stationary posts, walls,and stones from engaging and injuring the portion of the axle projectingbeyond the sleigh frame -A-. Moreover, I entirely protect the axle fromthe intiuence of the elements, and, if desiredthe box C may be filledwith grease or other suitable material for preventing wear or oxidationof the axle. Y

The parts of my invention are simple in construction, and may be readilycast, forged, or otherwise brought to the desired form, are readilysecured in position, vand are durable, effective, and practical inoperation and use.

As the detail construction and arrangement of the parts of my axlesupporting box may be somewhat varied from that shown and describedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not herein limitmyself to such `exact formV and construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with an axle and the frame of a sleigh or similarsupport; of a box formed with an outer end wall at the outside of theend of the axle and composed of a section rigidly secured to the frame,and a second box section hinged to the former section, and a clamphaving one end engaged with the former section and the other endremovably engaged with the other section, substantially as described. y

2. The combination with an axle and the frame of a sleigh or similarsupport; of a box IOO IIO

formed with one end open andthe other end closed and composed of twosections, a fastening device for securing one section to the frame, anda movable clamp for securing the latter section to the former section,substantially as specied.

3. The combination with an axle and the frame of a sleigh or similarsupport; of a box section rigidly secured to the frame and formed withan end wall at the outside of the end of the axle, a second box sectionhinged to the former section and formed with an end Wall also at theoutside of the end of the axle, and a clamp for securing the lattersection in its operative position, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with an axle and the frame of a sleigh or similarsupport; of a box section rigidly secured to the frame and formed withan end wall at the outside of the axle provided with a projection,asecond box section hinged to the former section and formed with an endwall also at the outside of the axle provided with a groove for regis-ytering With the projection in the former end wall, and a clamp forsecuring said sections together, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

5. The combination with an axle and the frame of a sleigh or similarsupport; of a box section rigidly secured to the frame `and formed withprojecting ears, a second box section formed with an ear hinged to theformer ears, and a screw having its shank mounted in the former sectionand its head adapted to removably engage the latter section,substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The combination with an axle and the frame of a sleigh or similarsupport; of a box section rigidly secured lto the framev and formed witha socket, a second box section hinged to the former section and formedwith a slot of greater length than Width, a clamp consisting of a shankmounted in the socket of the former section andahead of greater lengththan thickness adapted to pass through said slot or Vto engage the uppersection on opposite sides of the slot, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with an axle and the frame'of a sleigh or similarsupport; of a box section rigidly secured to the frame and formed withan end Wall at the outside of the end of the axle and with projectingears,v a second box section formed with an end wall also at the outsideof the end of the axle and formed with a projecting ear hinged to theformer ears, and a clamp for securing the latter section in itsoperative position, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with an axle ,and the frame of a sleigh or similarsupport; of a box section rigidly secured to the frame and formed withank end Wall at the outside of the end of the axle and with a socket, asecond box section hinged to the'former and formed with an end wall alsoat the outside of the end of the axle and with a slot of greater lengththan width, a clamp consisting of a shank secured to the former sectionand a head of greater length than thickness adapted to pass through saidslot or to engage the upper section on opposite sides of the slot,substantially as described.

9. The combination with an axle and the frame of a sleigh or similarsupport; of a box section rigidly secured toV the vframe and formed withprojecting ears and with a socket, a secondbox section formed with anear hinged to the former ears and with a slot of greater length thanWidth, a clamp consisting of a shank mounted in said socket and a headof greater length than thickness adapted to pass through said slot or toengage the up` per section on opposite sides of the slot, substantiallyas specified;

l0. The combination with an axle and the frame of a sleigh or similarsupport; of the lower section of a box rigidly secured to the frame andformed withy an open inner end and an outer end wall and with araisedbearing face on the'upper Wall of'itsin'ner end for engaging the axle, avlug extending laterally from said box section provided with a screwthreaded socket, a top box section formed with an end Wall and with aprojectinglbearing face on the lower wall of its inner end for engagingthe axle, a lug extending laterally from this latter box sectionprovided with a slot of greater length than Width, a clamp consisting ofa shank movably mounted in said socket, and a head of greater lengththan thickness adapted to passV through said slot or to engage the uppersection on opposite sides of the slot, substantially as specified.

1l. The combination with an axle having a cylindrical bearing face -band a shoul` der -bon the inner side of said face; of the frame of asleigh or similar support, a box formed with an end wall at the outsideof the end of the axle, and composed of the section -crigidly secured tothe frame,` and the section ff-hinged to the former section, said boxbeing provided with an interior chamber 08" having its outer end ofgreater diameter than the portion of the axle incased thereby and formedwith a raised bearing surface -C10 for engaging the axle surface b andwith an annular groove -CH-at the inner side of the surface -C10 forreceiving the shoulder -bon the axle, and a clamp F for securing thesection -cin its operative position, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo attesting Witnesses, at Fulton, in the county of Oswego, in theState of New York, this 30th day of June, 1892.

GEORGE B. PAQUETTE.

Witnesses:

' SoLoN F. CASE, GEO. KELLOGG.

